Riverdale won a wild one over Estero, South Fort Myers shut out Lehigh and North Fort Myers topped Island Coast.
Those were just some of the storylines from Week 1 of the 2026 high school football season in Southwest Florida.
To honor the players who stood out, The News-Press and Naples Daily News hand out their Game Balls for the top efforts each week. Here are the honorees for this week’s games.
Josiah Bataille, Riverdale
The running back rushed for 188 yards and scored three total touchdowns in the Raiders’ 24-21 win over Estero.
Aiden Boyd, South Fort Myers
The senior wide receiver caught two touchdown passes in the Wolfpack’s 38-0 win over Lehigh.
Jayden Cowgill, Immokalee
The junior quarterback passed for three touchdowns and rushed for three more in the Indians’ 54-12 win over Clewiston in the annual Harvest Bowl.
Noel Devine Jr., Cape Coral
The freshman scored two touchdowns, including an 88-yard kickoff return, and also had a diving 36-yard reception in the Seahawks’ 62-26 loss to Port Charlotte
Jaydon Henderson, South Fort Myers
The junior quarterback passed for 182 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another score in South’s 38-0 victory over Lehigh.
Ryan Johnson, North Fort Myers
The junior quarterback passed for 196 yards and three touchdowns in the Red Knights’ 41-6 season-opening win over Island Coast.
Jevan Raphael, Naples
The running back rushed for 150 yards on just 12 carries and had one touchdown in the Golden Eagles’ 42-21 loss to Sarasota Riverview.
Wyatt Sabin, North Fort Myers
The junior wide receiver caught six passes for 114 yards and one touchdown in North’s 41-6 win at Island Coast.
Dominick Sgambellone, First Baptist
The junior quarterback completed 16 of 27 for 209 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions’ 21-20 win over ECS.
Maddox Stewart, Estero
The senior quarterback threw for 399 yards in the Wildcats’ 24-21 loss to Riverdale
SWFL Week 1 Results
Thursday
South Fort Myers 38, Lehigh 0 | PHOTOS | VIDEO
Immokalee 54, Clewiston 12 | VIDEO
North Fort Myers 41, Lehigh 6 | PHOTOS | VIDEO
Friday
Charlotte 21, Fort Myers 0
Riverdale 24, Estero 21
Sarasota Riverview 42, Naples 21 | PHOTOS
Ida Baker 33, Bonita Springs 6
Oasis 18, SFCA 14
Port Charlotte 63, Cape Coral 26 | PHOTOS | VIDEO
Dunbar 70, Cypress Lake 0 | VIDEO
Gateway 48, East Lee County 8 | VIDEO
Wellen Park 24, Mariner 21
John Carroll 17, Bishop Verot 0
Gulf Coast 66, Lely 0
Doral Academy 41, Golden Gate 20
Barron Collier 48, Palmetto Ridge 7
Aubrey Rogers 32, Moore Haven 7
First Baptist 21, ECS 20
Cardinal Newman 37, Community School of Naples 7
St. John Neumann 24, Monsignor Pace 14
Canterbury 41, Sarasota Christian 21
Frostproof 28, LaBelle 21
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Game balls for SW Florida high school football top Week 1 performers
Reporting by Dan DeLuca, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan DeLuca, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
